Madison Preps For 2025-26 Budget Referendum

MADISON, CT — Madison's Budget Referendum for 2025-26is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, according to officials.

In addition to voting on the proposed $100.1 million budget, residents will also vote on the Academy Community Center Project budget, which has increased to $24 million.

Information on the Referendum is below:

Referendum
[On April 22], the Town Clerk adjourned the Special Town Meeting for the Academy question to Referendum. The Budget Referendum will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, and will include the Academy question. There will be three questions on this year's ballot; the first regarding the Town budget, the second the Education budget, and the third the Academy Community Center Project.

Absentee ballot information, voting locations, and a sample ballot can be found by visiting the Town Clerk’s webpage.
Read below for more information on the budgets and Academy.

2025-2026 Budget
The Board of Finance approved a recommended budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Town & School Budgets total $100.1M, representing a 2.59% increase from the previous fiscal year. The Board of Education Budget is increasing by 1.87% and the Town Budget (which includes Town and School capital and debt service costs) is increasing 3.92%.

Find more detailed information on the recommended budget, view the Digital Budget Book.

Academy
The Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance approved a resolution to bring to a vote on May 6th an increase in the Academy Community Center Project budget, from $15.9M (approved in February 2022) to $24M. After seeking bids for construction of the project, it was determined that the project budget was short by approximately $8M and more funding would be needed to meet community expectations for the renovation of the building.

Any additional spending on the project above the $15.9M in bonding already approved would be solely financed by grants and donations - no additional bonding or town funds are being requested for the construction of the project. The Town has already been awarded $7.625M in major grants that the Board is requesting to use to fund the $8M budget gap.
More information can be found on the Academy 2025 page.

If you have any questions, email askacademy@madisonct.org. The answers to these questions can be found on the FAQ sheet on the Academy 2025 page linked above. This document will be updated as questions are received.

For additional questions about the Referendum process, contact the Town Clerks Office at 203-245-5672.